George and Nancy Ashby Family - Caldwell County, Kentucky

When Stephen Ashby wrote his will [1] in 1828 in Caldwell County, Kentucky, he stated he wanted his slaves George and Nancy to be free.  George and Nancy took the surname of their former owner and they, along with their four children, George, Sabra, Henry and Sandford Ashby, appear on the 1850 Caldwell County census.[2]

Another record surfaced which adds more information about this family.[3] At a meeting of the county court at the court house in Princeton, on the 9th of January 1857, the following is recorded:  "This day John Ashby appeared in open Court and made oath the following children of George Ashby and Nancy Ashby, who have [been] emancipated by the last will and testament of Stephen Ashby Deceased, now of record in this office, in Will Book A, page 433 and dated 9th March 1828, have been born since the manumission of the sd. George and Nancy, said children and grand children, are of the following ages and description,  Viz :   

George about 24 years of age, dark complexion, about 6 feet 2 inches high

Henry about 20 years of age, yellow complexion, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high

Sandford about 17 years of age, dark complexion, about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high

Sabra about 2 years of age, bright complexion, about 5 feet 5 inches high,  her two children, Nancy Katharine, about 2 years old, of bright complexion. And Mary Magdalene, born August 23rd 1856, all of whom being born of  free parents, are hereby declared free, which is ordered to be certified to all whom it may concern.

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[1] Caldwell County, Kentucky Will Book A:433, Stephen Ashby, dated 9 March 1828; proven 17 January 1831.

[2] 1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky census, Dist. 2, Roll M432_194, p. 360A, George and Nancy Ashby, dwelling 279, family 279,  Ancestry.com.

[3] Caldwell County, Kentucky County Court Order Book H:484,  9 January 1857.

Published 19 July 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/